Page 35 of We Can Forever

“Sure.” I gulp. “I’ll go.”

Flick checks her phone. “You should go now, before it gets dark.”

Alexis giggles. “Yes, go now, so we can have a full report when you come back.”

“N-now?” My stammer, so obvious, couldn’t be more embarrassing.

“He’s there,” Devin supplies. “I saw him in the window when I walked by.”

I lick my dry lips. Michael won’t be the only person there. The place will be filled with firefighters I don’t know. What if… But maybe… I really should?—

“I, uh…”

The girls push me to the door. “Say hi for us,” Flick says.

My own shop door slams closed behind me, and I’m left alone on the front stoop.

“Damn it,” I mutter.

Chapter Thirteen

MICHAEL

After making my marks along the wall where the new counter will go, I jot down the measurements and step back to get a visual.

It’s usually something I’m good at—imagining a space completely redone before one part is even changed. With the firehouse’s kitchen, though, I’m hitting a wall. I can’t see anything other than what’s in front of me.

Rubbing the back of my neck, I sigh. My frustration has been mounting ever since I walked into this room twenty minutes ago, and though it may be best to throw in the towel for the night, I can’t find it in myself to do that. The more challenging a task is, the more I want to overcome it.

There’s a knock on the open door, and Nathan strides in with a six-pack. “You look like you’re doing some hard math.”

I smirk. “That’s one way to put it.”

“I’ll help you out. Two plus two is four.” Grinning with self-pleasure, he tosses me a beer.

“Nice.” I roll my eyes. “Who let this clown in here?”

“Eh, your team is all sitting in the bay watching the traffic go by. I slipped in completely unnoticed.”

Popping the beer can, I take a long sip. “Thanks for this.”

“I didn’t know if you’d still be here.” He settles into one of the plastic chairs around the table. “Isn’t your shift over?”

“Yeah, but I need to work on this.” I jerk my head at nowhere in particular.

“What about Hannah?”

The name releases a swarm of butterflies that flutter through my chest. “What about her?”

“I thought you might be with her. Or did it not go well at the fishing shack?”

I wouldn’t be able to stop my grin if I tried. “It went really well.”

“Oh?” He leans back and crosses his legs at the ankles. “Do tell.”

I rub the back of my neck, trying to collect my thoughts. But how can words express just how good it feels to be around her—how light, how carefree? Even when we’re talking about serious topics, it feels like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders and I’m free to just be myself for once.

“I’m falling for her,” I say, the words surprising even me. I’m not usually so forthcoming with my feelings.

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